File: joker garm.png (395 KB, 547x308)

395 KB PNG

>>39580894

Beneath you, hydraulics hiss as the Red Comet settles, body-bulk articulating. Some portion of the chassis subframe creaks, as it takes the weight; green telltales flickering to life on the cockpit ports and consoles, the idling power-plant grumbling in its steel safe like a fretful ogre. Back-hinged limbs, tipped with vast metal talons, splay - the sensor-cluster head turning, echoing your thought-impulses as the combat chassis comes to life around you.

ACTIVE...

Exhaust wash vents from the thermal exchangers, as plasma levels build. Data plots slide and drift across your field of vision - Streamers of data swirling about you, the core essentials remaining fixed and bright. Sub-mechanisms chatter, as a color pattern begins to blink in the lower-level periphery of your view; the shutters of the infantry compartment sliding shut, rocking slightly beneath Armaros's mass.

Autoloaders rattle, feeding munition chains to the guns. The primary entrance of the shelter - blast-doors, like a great bulkhead - rumbles, as it begins to slide open at last. Through the main and secondary cameras, you glimpse the huddled groups of the amalgamated squads:

Vector Geist's, bolstered by volunteers - Velvet Drossel looks lost in the midst of them, oddly forlorn, her jointed fingers curled around the grip of a Maser she's barely learnt how to use.

Counterweight Squadron, in their neat lines; Chrome Cypher at the forefront, the remaining four Players of Steppenwulf's Menagerie gathered close, as if for moral support - One of them, REINFORCE SHROUD, already circling the group. Where the hazy figure's limbs touch, images flicker, overlapping and swirling like a cloak of illusions as he puts he unique ability to use. For a moment, Cypher lifts her head - staring directly at the Red Comet, perhaps directly at you.

The moment passes. She looks away, as Steppenwulf prowls restlessly, shifting between quadruped and bipedal form, clearly on edge.

(Continued)

>>39580901
>like a fretful ogre.
;_;

>>39580901

Flare Oriole. You don't know much about her, but she's held her people together through this - their reinforcements look uncomfortable but determined, lugging heavy weapons or shields or cocooned in personal barriers.

And the rest. The Seisin Contignent, the remaining survivors - Some plan to take their chances in the shelter, waiting for the Shield to fall. Others plan to follow the trail razed by your three squads - it's a gamble, either way. Stay, and risk losing the chance to escape in time. Follow, and face ambush predators, the blind crossfire of total war, or any of the countless threats that are but an expression of the fundamental, all-consuming disaster wracking the dying city.

"...They're not going to make it, are they?" Haze's voice is low, hushed, echoing hollowly within the Red Comet's armored compartment. Perched on one of the bare metal benches, he stares out bleakly, yellow-eyed, as if he can't bear to look away. Instinct has made him draw closer to Rook - you hear the latter make a low sound, almost a snort, that crested helm turning as his talons scritch-scratch against the ground.

"They *will*." Armaros's voice is a low rumble - Each word delivered with absolute conviction. Mere minutes ago, he bid farewell to his squad, for what might be the final time; Not just an order for now, but an order forever. If he doesn't return, Chrome Cypher will be in command. His silvered-black bulk is more than twice Haze's size, his gauntlets closing and opening as the sparks of his distortion halo flicker around him - concentrated around the great neutronium blade mag-locked to his back.

Beyond a cursory glance, he's - studiously - avoided looking at Rook.

(Continued)

File: jokerarmaros.png (1.29 MB, 800x1565)

1.29 MB PNG

(Gentlemen: If there is anything else you want to do, this is the very best time.)

>>39581020

Then there's Kazuya. Daegal, his armor golden, gleaming - though dulled in the poor light - he's positioned himself next to White Licorice, the Immolator in his fist. There's something oddly protective about the gesture; you don't know what's passed between them, but - one way or another - she's decided to come with you, to ensure the portal takes you where you need to go. A shift of your focus increases the gain of your audio receptors, to catch the muted conversation between them:

> "...uya-kun, it's fine. Really."
> "But - How will you get back? When we go through-"

Perhaps he realizes what he's saying, because he stops - goes silent.

"-Joker."

Regios's voice crackles over the Dirac channel - a battered cobalt-blue figure, standing next to Tyrian Edge, surrounded by holographic screens that trail after him like banners. Seconded to Vector Geist's squad, Tyrian's role is to sustain communication for as long as possible; to send out the all-important message of success or failure.

Volt Regios's task is simply to protect him.

"Tyrian's disabling the final locks." the electric buzz to Regios's words are sharply differentiated from the background murmur of conversation; Tiny numerals flickering to life, counting ever-upwards. Thirty minutes - Such a small thing. Half an hour left to the earliest estimation of the Diadem's launch...Everything after that is merely guesswork. "-Two minutes to deployment."

One way or another, this will all be over soon.

[ ] (To Volt Regios) "Take care of Tyrian, will you?)
[ ] Talk to Rook.
[ ] Talk to Distortion Haze.
[ ] Talk to Armaros.
[ ] Talk to Daegal.
[ ] Talk to White Licorice.
[ ] Contact the squad leaders.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39581091
>(Gentlemen: If there is anything else you want to do, this is the very best time.)
Guys, any outfitting that we could do?

How about equipping Hollow Sun weapons? We have two heavy slots.

I would say the machine cannon and autocannon would be a good idea.

OP, would there be a drawback to equipping a pile bunker?
It seems to only occupy a shield slot and we do have a free one, right?
If it disables all equipment on the arm, I'd say we move the Sinistral to the right arm, so that our left one is left without equipment.
The Argus System doesn't count as using a slot anymore, right?

>>39581091
Well, I'm assuming we've gone over the plan outlined in the last thread already. I don't fancy another speech, either, so contact the squad leaders is out.
Something that just occurred to me: won't Rook's primary assets, his flight and mobility, be limited in the Diadem? I also want to find out how he was upgraded and how he feels about it.
>[ ] Talk to Rook.

>>39581091
>(To Volt Regios) "Take care of Tyrian, will you?)
Can't think of anything to say to the rest, unfortunately.
>Gentlemen: If there is anything else you want to do, this is the very best time.
Did we get around to having Kazuya summon the Rifle Bits for us and the Lucifer bits for him? If not, we should have him do it now.

>>39581135
>How about equipping Hollow Sun weapons? We have two heavy slots.
Do you have the diagram for our slots, and what we have equipped?
I can't recall everything offhand.

>>39581135

> It seems to only occupy a shield slot and we do have a free one, right?

(You actually already have the Sinistral on your left arm. Shields don't 'stack', so to speak.

You could equip a Pile Bunker, but the drawback would be that it's fairly cumbersome, and precludes the use of other weapons on the same arm. It's actually meant as a weapon first, a shield second.)

>>39581154

(Already done.)

>>39581091
Tell Daegal to grab the Adamant. He's going to need it.

>>39581189
He's already got it.

Man, his outfitting is going nicely. Hollow Sun bits, Hollow Sun shield (It's a remake of the original Adamant), Hollow Sun pistol and Hollow Sun sword/rifle.

>>39581091
We could tell Daegal about how the Joker armor is transferred on death. This might be a good insurance for if someone gets to knock us all down and is sure to kill us.

Maybe we could tease White Licorice a bit and imply that we are a bit proud of her bravery.

Haze might need encouraging words.

Or maybe talk to Amaros, to get a mutual respect thing going.

>>39581167
>>39581135

(My apologies, a quick addition: You have a Fusion Beamer in your Heavy Weapon slot. Since your Chaingun was destroyed, you have room for one more weapon.)

>>39581220
>We could tell Daegal about how the Joker armor is transferred on death.
Let's not? I don't see how that could lead anywhere positive, and it's a gigantic deathflag to boot.

>>39581221
OP, the Hollow Sun guide does not mention the Fusion Beamer, aside from inside of the description of another weapon.

>>39581220
>We could tell Daegal about how the Joker armor is transferred on death.
Horrible idea that will fucking terrify him.
>Maybe we could tease White Licorice a bit and imply that we are a bit proud of her bravery.
She doesn't like Joker in the least, so let's not.
>Or maybe talk to Amaros, to get a mutual respect thing going.
Won't happen. Armaros despises Joker.

>>39581252

(My apologies, that's a genuine error - It should be a Photon Beamer instead. I'll be sure to update it next time. Fortunately, I've already been using the Photon Beamer's stats.)

>>39581154

> (To Volt Regios) "Take care of Tyrian, will you?"

"Always," Regios rasps, thorn-blade gripped at the ready in one hand. His armor is battered, rent in places, but he lumbers on with a careful watchfulness, a kind of relentless indefatigability that seems to buoy his ravaged form.

> [X] Talk to Rook.

It's hard to reach Rook over the Dirac channel - there is a freful, unpleasant static in the background, a sickly fritiniency like the chattering of unseen bugs. But he answers immediately, as if he's been expecting you all along.

"-Joker." His voice crackles, by way of greeting; harsh and dry as a vulture's caw. His crested helm tips back, back, staring right into the camera - as if he can see through it, into your soul. Even at rest, machine-growls sound in his cabled neck joints, as his muscles tense with unintentional tics - his avian helm snapping left and right, as if hunting for prey.

"*She's* close."

From the way he breathes the word - with a terrible mix of anticipation and hatred - you know exactly who he's talking about.

"It's all going away. It's all going away, with everything else - down into dark red slurry." there is a sibilant rape to his voice, over the private channel - air hissing in through his jagged mouth grille. The sound of fingernails scratching down sandpaper.

"But for now-"

"-I *know*."

(Continued)

File: joker rook.jpg (69 KB, 736x1273)

69 KB JPG

>>39581328

His feet have warped into armored claws - curling, multi-jointed, wickedly bladed, each motion making his metal joints squeal. Another hissing breath, another involuntary muscle spasm. Holding himself together, on the surface.

An act of human will.

[ ] "...How long do you have left?"
[ ] "-So Armaros was right."
[ ] "What will you do?"
[ ] "Does Haze know?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39581381
>"...How long do you have left?"
>"Does Haze know?"

>>39581381
>[ ] "...How long do you have left?"
>[ ] "Does Haze know?"
"So, whoever is first gets dibs on Alura? If I absorb her essence, I could make a hat out of her."

Shit. Guys.
I thought of something:
Daegal needs to know that Alura looks like a cute girl and that she's a psychopathic monster.

>>39581381
>[ ] "...How long do you have left?"
>[] Free
Ask who upgraded him.

>>39581395
No killstealing her from him. It's the only thing he still lives for, let him have that, at least.

>>39581417
Yeah we probably should mention that.

>>39581430

(The Thief infused him with Lachryma, in order to awaken him from his coma state.)

>>39581393
>>39581395

> "...How long do you have left?"

He sniggers - A dirty, humorless chuckle.

"Long enough, Joker."

Barely perceptible - except to your altered senses - shapes move beneath the surface of Rook's armor. It is a subtle shift, a gradual one; the raw cords of myomer muscle developing dark lesions, hard and black like rare pearls. Some of them have opened, like eyes. Out of sight, beneath his armored chest plate, bony juts of distorted matter press against the cage of his ribs - murky infections bubbling, going cancerous.

His body is devouring itself. Rotting from within.

Long enough.

> "Does Haze know?"

Rook turns his head. Haze is still staring out at the gathering squads, oblivious to the private conversation.

"Haze," Rook rasps, "-is very good at ignoring what he doesn't want to see."

There is an odd mix of fondness - and something that is almost contempt - in his voice. Lower, now, he continues-

"Joker - when the time comes..." There's a long, damned pause, as if he's uncertain what to say - Or merely considering his words. Perhaps Rook doesn't know, either - the red lenses of his newly-altered helm makes it impossible to tell. The static only intensifies, like a chorus of whispers-

(Continued)

>>39581484
>"Joker - when the time comes..."
We're gonna have to mercykill him, aren't we?
Oh boy.

>>39581484

Armaros's voice crackles over the link, curt, abrupt - "Joker!"

Your field of view shifts, to focus on him. He's standing, drawing himself to his full height - One hand curled around Ascalon's grip, the other bracing himself against the inner wall of the personnel compartment. "-It's starting."

The deep rumble of the cargo lift makes the ground judder, as everything moves *upwards*. The loading platform ascends, straining beneath the Red Comet and the combined weight of your three squads - the grey concrete walls giving way to a hellscape of smoke, of ruined towers and flickering flames across the dying city of Arcadia-

There's a sudden babble of activity over the Dirac channel, the tiny dots of individual Players fanning out - a miniature exodus. Within the armored cell, Haze hunches down as Daegal's gauntlet locks against one of the overhead grips, as everything begins to sway and rattle-

-Go.

The Red Comet lurches forward, accelerating from a standing stop. Sensor-cluster eyes burn with red light, the GARM's reactor rumbling - mingling with the hum of refined sub-motors, as it takes the first massive step. You twist the throttle, clearing the exit - there is nothing between you and the twisted, cracked paths running through the dilapidated heart of Arcadia.

(Continued)

>>39581496
You know, we could make this a hilarious conversation where everyone tells everyone else how they'd like to die.
Like, we'd want that the enemy doesn't get our armor.

And no, this is not a suggestion.

I wonder if we should talk about the various enemies that we might encounter.

Pazuzu, Rust Kaiser, Bell Zephyr, Alura, Grand Magus, Inox Fang, White Joker, who did I forget?

It would be nice if our allies had basic knowledge of the abilities of these enemies.

>>39581611
Based on my knowledge of JRPGs:
>Pazuzu
Endboss. Probably gets a Black Joker-sponsored transformation into a bigass monster, too.
>Rust Kaiser, Bell Zephyr
Betting we'll fight those two together.
>Alura
Leave her to Rook. No killstealing, guys.
>Grand Magus, Inox Fang
Unimportant in the bigger scale of things. They'll probably lead some kind of mob against us.
>White Joker
Last fight before Pazuzu.

Also I'm kind of expecting to encounter all the Players we've slain over the course of the quest somewhere, but Alura already sort of did that with the Tournament winners, so I'm not sure.

>>39581668
>Grand Magus
Wouldn't surprise me if he jobbed to Haze.

>>39581689
I would love to see Haze jump the guy and tear out the cables in his neck.

>>39581668
Well, I was talking more about giving our allies intel, so that they have a small advantage.

Especially the whole "Alura looks like a girl" thing.

>>39581689
That'd be hilarious. Especially if we could trash-talk him while he's dying from Haze's poison.

File: jokerhell.jpg (110 KB, 1200x338)

110 KB JPG

>>39581591

If anything, the smog has become even worse; Scads of ash drizzling from a choking black sky. You hear White Licorice make a soft, disbelieving sound, as her one-armed form stiffens in her seat-

The gardens are burning. The blaze has spread to the grove of platinum trees, the crossing iron lawns, the hedgerows and fractal topiary that crackles with energised life. There is something apocalyptic about it, like watching a monument being put to the torch; all engulfed in firestorms ablaze from end-to-end. A new forest of bright liquid flame, thickening the air into poisonous soup.

"Holy shit," Daegal mutters - The sheer scale of destruction seems to have left even Rook speechless, for a moment. The Red Comet powers forward, impervious to the heat - through the pulverized rubble of final destruction, past the burning lawns.

"Where-" Haze begins, sounding stunned - It takes him a moment to gather himself, to rally, his eyes flickering from yellow to green.

"Joker, where are going?"

Waypoint icons and luminous threads flicker to life, ready to guide you through the wasteland. Four staging grounds, four likely portals - The GARM lumbering past the toppled remnants of a nameless statue, your map shaking itself into a new configuration.

[ ] The Maiden's Labyrinth: The closest waypoint, set somewhere at the heart of the burning gardens. (Range - NEAR)
[ ] The Grand Hall: At the very border of the main grounds of the school, this was one of the areas devastated in the opening minutes of the assault. (Range - MODERATE)
[ ] The Palazzo: Opulently-furnished, this was a common haunt for the Player population of Seisin High, and one of the sites of great slaughter. (Range - MODERATE)
[ ] The Tower: The site of your meeting with the Thief, this observatory was close to the visitor dormitories - And one of the first to be engulfed, when the Shroud fell. (Range - FAR)

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39581727
Either Grand Hall or Palazzo.
The former because no one will be looking there for White Licorice.

The latter because she might find hiding survivors after she gets us through the portal.

>>39581745
>The Grand Hall
If it was attacked first off it should be relatively empty.

>>39581745

Go for the nearest one. The Maiden's Labyrinth is closest.

>>39581745
>[ ] The Palazzo: Opulently-furnished, this was a common haunt for the Player population of Seisin High, and one of the sites of great slaughter. (Range - MODERATE)
The mostly likely place for there to be Players. Let's get us some Essence.

>>39581745
>The Grand Hall:

>>39581767
The IP count has existed for long enough that you should know not to bother.

Though I guess >>39581765 is also as likely to be a samefagged post.

>>39581786
>>39581797
The fuck are you talking about?
Did he try and samefag?
>>39581765 is my first and only vote for that post.

>>39581810
There are 5 IPs in this thread. Subtracting one for JQOP, there are only four players, yet there are five votes.
Could also be the guy who responded to the deleted post quoting the new one and changing his mind.

>>39581786
Obviously, since I already participated in the first fucking vote.

>>39581827
He should delete that one, then. Or make some reference to it.
Odd time to try and samefag, though.

>>39581827
>>39581840
Nope, it isn't me.

>>39581827
Maybe someone voted from a phone? Last I checked, the IP count doesn't actually recognize those.

>>39581857
Then it's probably >>39581767 and >>39581753
Again: a strange time to samefag. Doesn't seem that important.

>>39581873
Nah I'm >>39581753 and I pointed it out initially. It doesn't really matter, anyway, unless someone has a problem with Grand Hall.

>>39581873
Nope, not those ones.

>>39581872
Phones have IPs just like anything else.

File: jokerarmour.png (364 KB, 500x675)

364 KB PNG

> [X] The Grand Hall

The Red Comet shoulders through a half-collapsed building, flames flickering off its energy shields, hazed in billowing orange dust; Clawed feet churn through the rubble, hydraulics rasping and venting as you trigger the MODE CHANGE-

You don't manuever around obstructions. You go through them.

The Red Comet's treads are spinning, even before it hits the ground. They whirl, chewing air, grinding over the street's surface - lurching as it knocks aside trees, flattening the long grass in its path. Enormous engines rev, sharpnel knocking and clattering against the GARM's flanks; It surges through the burning gardens with alarming speed, trailing a caul of smoke as it sets off across the flat ground with a steady clatter of tracks-

Clumps of new earth spray up into the air. Trees vanish, splintered into metallic kindling, sparking chains flickering across the Red Comet's carapae as it races on, the brute thunder of the main drive drowning out all other sound.

"Jesus-" Rattled like a die in a cup, Haze clutches on to one of the overhead grips - Even Armaros is on his feet, as White Licorice covers the sides of her helmet, trying to drown out the noise. It's a roar, a tremendous sound, bruising and grinding, as you bulldoze a path free-

And then you hit the ramjet engine.

A horizontal tongue of blue flame spews from the thrusters, and the world blurs. Low to the ground, the Red Comet surges forward, already doing over two hundred kilometers an hour - Immense night-blackened blocks of prefab buildings crowd the right-of-way, but the streets themselves are empty...

-Empty of any obstacles that could stop you, or even *slow* you, at any rate.

The combat chassis crushes cars beneath its grinding treads - rumbling over the ruin indiscriminately, anonymous impacts clattering from the hull. You break out into the next street over, crushing a low wall into a ramp as cyclopean structures flash by on either side-

(Continued)

>>39581932

And in the distance, you catch your first glimpse of the Grand Hall. It is one of the alien structures that has suffered the worst from the bombardment; A glass pyramid defaced by explosions, the soaring columns and porticos half-collapsed and scarred by gunfire, buttressed by stone pillars the size of ancient redhoods. The pavements are made of etched steel, polished like mirrors; fine alabaster steps detailed with gold leading up to a portico of glass and silver-

The quake has ripped away the mirrored facade, punching great holes encircled by crazed lines and spidery fractures. Wisps of smoke boil out from the internal structure of the Hall; if it reflects light at all, it only echoes the ruin on all sides, now.

A high-energy reaction, as the Red Comet's thrusters gutter out-

The entire building shakes, and broadcasts an ascending column of light. Alien data spiders across your sensors, as the light *curves*, arching - Drawn towards the ominous, leviathan shape of the Diadem, an answering flicker coming from the edge of the great disc-

A gasp, from White Licorice - She has to shout to make herself hurt, the effort making her stumble, struggling to balance herself with a single arm. "They're *already* teleporting out-"

(Continued)

>>39581981

Armaros pushes himself forward, his voice a snarl-

"-How long?"

She recoils, as that formidable visage turns towards her - "W-what...?"

"How long until the *next* one-?"

The Garm's sensor sweep recoheres, in the wake of the first crackling blast. There is an actinic hum you sense more than feel, as the combat chassis slews to a stop, one set of tracks braking as the other races on, the entire machine bouncing on its suspicion, the brute thunder of the engine quaking beneath you.

"I don't-"

"Wonderful," Rook rasps, earning himself a sharp look from Daegal. He's on his feet, his razored wings already spread - In the momentary silence that descends as the Red Comet lurches to a stop, Haze peers fretfully out of the vision slit - "Can't we - Can't we just drive *through* the building-?"

"No-!" the alarm in Licorice's voice makes his head snap around. "If you disrupt the Hall's systems - We'll lose the connection-"

[ ] "It's worth the risk."
[ ] "Everyone out. Now."
[ ] "*How long do we have?*"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39582021
>[ ] "Everyone out. Now."

>>39582021
>"Everyone out. Now."
>"*How long do we have?*"

>>39582021
>[ ] "Everyone out. Now."
>[ ] "*How long do we have?*"
"Time to go as fast as possible. Amaros, how fast can you be?
Daegal, your Booster should be able to speed up your steps. Carry White Licorice."
If Amaros can't go fast, we give him the Scrander for our track to the teleporter. However, make sure to take it back afterwards.

I hope the cramped space isn't an issue for Rook. Or is there an alternative route with more room for him?

What do we do with Haze? Have Rook carry him?

>>39582021
>[x] "Everyone out. Now."

>>39582054
Seconding.

Though I have to ask, was Haze so badly wounded he needed help walking or was that just shellshock?

Also, random fear of the day: I just hope Alura's not what I think she is. It's possible that considering her strange circumstance Hecate became a Hyades without dying in the Real. Which would explain Alura's ability to sit down and have a chat in it without Pazuzu's help getting her there. If true I'd have no idea how to save her, or if it's possible...or if we'd even want to.

>>39582102
That fear has already been debunked about 50 threads ago.

>>39582110
Fair enough. Just wondering. Been a while since I've gone over the threads.

Having shitty memory sucks.

>>39582054
If Haze is slow and Rook can't carry him, we should take White Licorice and Daegal Haze, because his frame seems to be stronger and bigger than ours.

By the way, don't forget to recall the tank.

>>39582192
Man, I hope we get to have a fight inside the Diadem with it. On one hand, it'll likely be cramped as hell even with the massive facility and room that comes with it, and it'll get focused fast.

On the other hand they'll be making a huge effort to bring their mutated machines to a tank fight.

>>39582042
>>39582048
>>39582054
>>39582058

> [X] "Everyone out. Now."

"We're - We're leaving the tank?" Haze sounds genuinely appalled. "I thought we-"

His words are lost in the clatter of the door release, the howl of the burning wind. You hear the crushing thud of Armaros landing, his mass cratering the surface; then Rook, then Haze, then Daegal - A "Come on-!" crackling over the channel as he flexes his knees to take the impact, catching White Licorice as she stumbles-

And then you. The control filaments of the Red Comet retract, as the cockpit opens - Like the blossoming of a metal flower. You don't wait for the GARM to sink to its knees, as you vault over the side. The pavement cracks beneath you, the huge vehicle ticking as it cools. There is a momentary sense of disorientation, of disconnection from the combat chassis - the wind moaning through the rubble-strewn street, as you key the Teleport Homer clenched in your fist.

The Red Comet...diminishes. It grows less tangible, less real by the second, losing solidity - Becoming a sketch of burning schematic lines, lines that withdraw and unweave themselves into burning motes of distant photons. By the time you mag-lock the unit to your side, it is already gone; your small squad already ahead of you, moving up the towering flight of stairs-

> [X] "*How long do we have?*"

"I - Ten, maybe fifteen minutes," Licorice says, her voice nearly a stammer - "If...If they're teleporting out the maximum number of Players each time - They'll have to wait for the system to rechar-"

"Ten *minutes*-?" Daegal has his shield on one arm, pulling her along with the other - He turns to glance at you, as you begin to outpace him. It's a mad scramble to the top of the stairs, Rook loping forward, Armaros taking them three at a time with his long strides; "Anon, that's..."

(Continued)

>>39582259

As if to underscore his words, a salvo of gunfire whips down from somewhere past the entrance archway. The first sizzling shot goes wide, past Daegal's left shoulder - He wrenches to the side, violently, bringing his shield up-

And you hear the first shouts. The Smilers have left sentries.

Twin bursts of muzzleflash, from within the inner atrium - A cavernous space, with the same hall-of-mirrors effect that once encompassed the entire building. Fluted columns brace the marble platform past the broad entrance, a hury and airy stone space; rectangular, landscape in form, lit by flame-light through slots in the roof that dances - with twitching, surreal light - across the host of reflective surfaces.

Your Argus sensor pinpoints the first defenders:

EBON THORN
SOL DECURION
BLITZ INGRAM
ASHEN HAND-

The ground heaves beneath you. Swells.

"Incoming-"

(Continued)

>>39582371
Remember, guys: we promised to go for Oblivion's Husk if we level up.

>>39582387
Also, remember to not vote for Athame. We are corrupt enough already.

I wish we wouldn't get Oblivion's Husk, but I can't stop you curious fucks.

>>39582371
By the way, can we challenge random enemies to create arenas?

>>39582387
So...how much collateral do you think we could get away with? We'll want a good idea of what is and isn't OK. Fusion Annihilator's off unless we're doing rapid beam mode.

What about Triskelion missiles? With or without cobalt boost?

>>39582402
Has a good idea, but the thing is, Challenger system only works one-on-one, and we'd be leaving the rest to fight without our supervision.

>>39582402
>I wish we wouldn't get Oblivion's Husk, but I can't stop you curious fucks.
What do you want, then?

>>39582402
>Also, remember to not vote for Athame. We are corrupt enough already.
The next Athame upgrade is supposedly extremely beneficial though. JQOP outright stated that he had to separate the beginning of the Lachryma Manipulation tree into two upgrades, because otherwise it'd be too OP.

>>39582371
>EBON THORN
Probably shoots spikes or is melee.

>SOL DECURION
Likely uses photonic attacks. A Decurion is some kind of leader.

>BLITZ INGRAM
Either fast or lightning-related or both.

>ASHEN HAND
Self-explanatory.

>>39582422
Either one of our FORCE upgrades or the frame reconstruction.

T2.5 would increase our versatility. Which we will need.
Or finally upgrading our TAU gun.

Increased meter gain or an upgrade to our stasis field might also be useful.

Seriously, we have a lot of upgrades that I'd rather take than any lachryma one.

What about Rubicante and Cagnazzo upgrade?

>>39582438
>because otherwise it'd be too OP
I bet ten bucks that it's because of the drawbacks associated with getting another Athame upgrade.

>>39582438
I'm leery of it both from a narrative standpoint and a gameplay one. We have no idea what it could be at all, and I'd rather have something we know.
Otherwise we might as well pick the roulette.

>>39582455
That's not what overpowered means.

>>39582371

Phantom limbs erupt from the ground. Arms, monstrous ones - bristling insectile limbs, barbed tendrils, talons, swelling with obscene life as they unfurl, flapping and snaking - Dripping worm limbs of bruised meat that lash the air-

Rook leaps. Thrusters pulse to life, pinions spreading as he takes wing - For the first time, you glimpse BLITZ INGRAM, twin auto-mags thundering as they eject a constant stream of shells upwards and outwards in front of the fierce grin and crazed eyes of his white mask. He is more accurate than he has any right to be; You hear Rook curse, banking hard as he pulls free from the flailing arms that lash at him - even as the burning tracers of INGRAM's rounds *curve* to follow, striking sparks from his carapace.

B̀͞҉̬̳͇̖͈Ǔ̺̹͉̙͌̋̓́ͅR̡̨̫̠̆̋͊N̤̯̾̑̕ ̢̯̻̲̭̍ͬ̅̆̈́T̛͕̞̙͎̦̲̅ͮ͋͡H̡̛̜͚̲͗̈͛ͩ̑ͥ̓̋ͩ͘E͈͈̼͍̭̗͉̲̽̓ͭ͝M̡̟͇͉̉̉

Sol Decurion. A sparse, gunmetal-grey frame - Bare except for the smoldering red orb of the high-yield fusion reactor in his chest, circuit-pattern filaments spidering outwards, lighting him from within. He is crowned by the great sweep of quad plasma mounts that begin at his shoulders and fuse with his helm; already glowing from within as the charge builds-

"I - aaargghhhh!" Haze lets out a yell as the first of the phantom limbs find him - Seizing him with beaks and suckers, constricting around his form, lifting him off the ground as he flails. Armaros is already moving, bounding up the steps - the hum of his distortion halo building to a hum, converging around him in a seething field...

(Continued)

>>39582494
It actually is.

Overpowered means that it's too useful for its costs.

Level up points are one price. Corruption can be another price.

>>39582520
>Overpowered means that it's too useful for its costs.
>Level up points are one price.
Hence why it was split into two level ups.

>>39582520
It's only the second tier of the ability and we'll have a few after it.

>>39582520
What *I'm* worried about is that if we survive long enough, we WILL have to face the Black Joker. Or the mass that represents it in the Black.

And it'll be infinitely harder when it's a part of us than when it's not.

>>39582509
>Phantom limbs erupt from the ground.
I sure as shit didn't expect that. Could a Player be responsible for it somehow? The Zalgotext makes me unsure.

>>39582548
Likely Ebon Thorn. We've encountered enemies with text like that before. Hell Alura was doing that when she mind-and-soul-raped us.

>>39582541
See >>39582547
From how it was phrased, it sounded like it would be more powerful than usual upgrades. Which could very well mean that it corrupts us massively.

Don't forget that we are at stage 2 and already got a glimpse of us turning black.

>>39582559
Wait, who else did it?

I say we throw a Muleta poison spear at Sol Decurion, fire the Tau gun at Ebon Thorn and Chain Mines at Blitz Engram.

>>39582576
>I say we throw a Muleta poison spear at Sol Decurion, fire the Tau gun at Ebon Thorn and Chain Mines at Blitz Engram.
We do have to think about our allies, though.
Best to wait for JQOP's next update to see who's trying to deal with who.

>>39582576
We have a Continued. Wait until the dump is finished and we have a clear view of the situation.

>>39582591
>>39582600
I did not mean this to be an actual combat move, but a suggestion to talk about.

>>39582387
I'd rather get Athame Attunement, since OP already said that the first stage was unimpressive purely because the next stage unlocks a bunch of cool shit.

But I'll agree with Oblivion's Husk for the first levelup.

>>39582576
>it sounded like it would be more powerful than usual upgrades
No, it's powerful in conjunction with the first tier.
That could mean any number of things. It could be an ability that allows us to expend the corruption we build up via healing.

File: joker decurion.png (527 KB, 1920x1080)

527 KB PNG

>>39582509

More hands, erupting from the ground behind you. Cutting off escape. Spiderlike, held aloft by eight mismatched arms that bristle from his shoulders and spine, ASHEN HAND's chittering laughter crackles across the distance - he scales the half-smashed facade of the Great Hall, talons finding new handholds, articulating with insect grace. His form is so smudged with dust and caked gore that the original color of his armor is lost; his faceplate emblazoned with a bloody handprint, all the expression he can ever show.

"Licorice, stay behind me-"

The Condemner crackles, as Daegal swings it in burning arcs - He shears through one, bringing the Adamant up to parry another; the impact staggers him, as he wheels around to shield White Licorice, a glancing blow drawing sparks from his back-

One more-

EBON THORN. A lightless, lustreless black. Keeping pace with INGRAM, his heavy armor so thwart with spikes and recurve barbs that he seems more the emodiment of a vicious trap than a person. Even his visor bulges with thorns, formidable combat spikes that bristle from his arms and shoulders, levelling one arm directly at you with slow, lethal concentration.

HP: 96.8%
COBALT BOOSTER: 170%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 150%
METER: 41%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39582438
While I agree with you, we also agreed to get Oblivion's Husk first.

>>39582610
We're accounting for the actions of 4. Maybe 5 if Licorice gets it in her head to want revenge rather than fear for her safety or life.

>>39582622
Look man, I'm just saying Joker's decision line has been a long one of making mistakes because we threw caution to the wind.

Let's have some discretion when it matters the most and neglect those upgrades because even if it's worth it gameplay-wise, it, like every OTHER thing we've done, will come back to bite us in the ass hard. The last place you want that to happen is in combat.

>>39582635
Alright, so it's either Ebon Thorn or Ashen Hand doing this. Ebon Thorn seems to need to concentrate for something, so even if it isn't this, it'll probably pay off to distract him.

Shoot Thorn. Preferably with the Tau gun. After that, try and get Ashen Hand down by firing at him.
I'm feeling nostalgic, so let's use the Vulcans for that.

>>39582635
So he's about to throw a spike at us.
Thank fuck for our stasis field.

Use dual TAU guns on Thorn. Make them cobalt boosted.
Activate afterimages to avoid his attacks. Circle around him. Use occasional missiles to distract the other enemies, especially Ashen Hand and Decurion.
Blitz Ingram can likely just shoot down the missiles.

>>39582635
EXEC_DISRUPT at Decurion, EXEC_BARRIER, shoot Ebon with Rubicante and Blitz with Cagnazzo. Follow up the shot at Ebon with a Chain Mine.

Should we activate a swarm?

I feel it would do good against Sol. His generator is exposed, after all.

>>39582669
Blitz's rounds/guns are homing. Decurion has a plasma setup, and we know from experience how nasty that can be. Thorn's charging us directly, and Ashen is likely the one constricting Haze with his grotesque hands.

As >>39582691 says, but out of the 4-5 missiles we fire most of them should be on Ashen. Blitz is a matter of getting focused, Thorn has a fight to pick with us, so it's mostly Sol Decurion the others need to watch out for.

Perhaps tell Daegal to keep his eyes on Decurion and block attacks from Bltiz or him if he can? Have Rook focus Ashen. The two of them are good at harassment, they should hinder each other well. Armaros has already decided who he wants so let's just wait and see.

>>39582738
The Assault Shroud is weak against lasers and heat. He'll just burn right through them.

>>39582760
Actually...
>404.After your transformation, the Assault Shroud's nanomaterial colony has symbiotically fused with your armor; It now regenerates up to 10% per round, with greater resistance to energy attacks.
>with greater resistance to energy attacks.

>>39582802
Weak + greater != good or even necessarily normal resistance.

>>39582669
>>39582691
>>39582730
>>39582754

The burning lines of the hypersphere resolve into the bulk of the Tau Gun, as you bring the weapon up in an unfurling sweep - the Emulator module at the base of your spine pulses, an identical cannon braced in your other fist. The scorching line of the tracer beam slices across the distance; It slashes a shallow line across EBON THORN's heavy armor, a molten furrow that lights him up in your sensor view as you depress the heavy triggers-

He fires first. EBON THORN vanishes in a choking cloud of exhaust, as a great spike - fully a meter long, a barbed harpoon with forward-pointing, overlaid leaves of razor-sharp alloy - hurtles forth. When it hits the envelope of your Inertia Field, it *slows*; You turn your head, the round passing close enough for you to feel the breeze as it hurtles past, the launcher's rifling setting it spinning as it tumbles...

The half-visible distortion hits Thorn, dead-on, in the act of bringing his arms up. The explosion that follows flings him back - He roars, as one limb fractures like glass, great chunks of armor bounding outwards as he staggers. The titanium bones of his skeletal structure gleam through the great bite chewed from his right arm, framed by ragged clumps of oozing myomer muscle - Reeling back, he stumbles to one knee-

Your second shot goes wide. You don't hit ASHEN HAND - you hit the array of arms that branch from his shoulders, and they detonate like short-fused grenades. He tumbles - that eerie insectile skitter turned into a lurching fall, coils of ash streaming from the wound; Your crosshairs settling on him as your Triskelion launchers spin up, to fling fire and death into the air.

The *whoosh* of missiles taking flight, spiraling towards Ashen Hand's distant form - Ingram switches around, one automag spitting a steady stream of overlapping gunfire, the bullets raking your rockets from the air-

(Continued)

>>39582997
Note to self and maybe others:
EXEC_SWARM Blitz.

Let's see how accurate you are when the locusts come for you.

>>39583039
Or maybe Ashen Hand.
I feel like he'd suck at destroying massive amounts of small targets with his arms.

>>39582997
>When it hits the envelope of your Inertia Field, it *slows*; You turn your head, the round passing close enough for you to feel the breeze as it hurtles past, the launcher's rifling setting it spinning as it tumbles...
Suck it.

>He roars, as one limb fractures like glass, great chunks of armor bounding outwards as he staggers. The titanium bones of his skeletal structure gleam through the great bite chewed from his right arm, framed by ragged clumps of oozing myomer muscle - Reeling back, he stumbles to one knee-
Man, I've missed direct hits with the Tau gun.

>>39583039
Seems like a good idea

Swarm is always super helpful.

>>39582997

The first impact burst draws your next missile, and the next - Expanding into an immense fireball fed by no less than four, an chain of detonations that blossoms into plumes of flame. You're already moving, already sprinting as Ebon Thorn fires again; he doesn't aim at you, but the effect is even more devastating - when the next barbed round buzzes down like a glittering hornet, it slams into the stone before you-

Everything goes outwards. A cloud of razor shrapnel erupts, flechettes scouring your crimson plate, fragments punching through the joints - damage warnings flaring to life on your HUD, as the bulk of your emulated Tau Gun is punctured, fizzing into nothing as the module goes dead-

Wild, random fire - Distortion Haze lets out an incoherent shout, his fingers clawing at the limbs that grasp him; He's got his hand on his Ion Gun, somehow - Crackling blasts searing into the base of a tentacle. When the white-cored blast hits, static crackles fitfully on your sensors - chewed through, it spasms open, flinging him aside in a tumbling, skidding arc-

A flash of burning light-

Huge, searing beams of plasma energy lash forth. Sol Decurion's frame, at the massive firepower he's unleashed - It shears through two pillars that collapse with a roar of tumbling stone, the immense cutting beams piling destruction upon destruction; they unmake anything they touch, turning the ground to molten slag, to churning magma - he stands with legs planted sturdily, as the devastating horizontal fountain blasts matter apart. It cuts a burning swathe through the ghostly limbs that erupt from the ground, disintegrating them-

He's aiming for Daegal.

(Continued)

>>39583148
>he stands with legs planted sturdily, as the devastating horizontal fountain blasts matter apart
There is only one choice:
Collapse the ground beneath his feet.

>>39583148
>He's aiming for Daegal.

I TOLD YOU BRO
WE SHOULD'VE WARNED HIM ABOUT PLASMA CANNONS

Hope Adamant's really good for this shit.

At this point it's starting to feel like FUCK IT, EXEC_SWARM FOR EVERYONE.
YOU GET A SWARM, AND YOU GET A SWARM, AND YOU!

>>39583226
I think we should swarm Thorn while we rush Sol (unless the next update changes that situation up), because our swarm penetrates armor and poisons people now.

>>39583264
>When he hits the ground, whatever remains of him detonates.
We Kamen Rider now!

>>39583264
>And then his head explodes.
Thought this was Armaros at first. Was kind of confusing.

>>39583292
I thought that the attack looks as if his own head is exploding.

Why is 4chan going crazy again?

>>39583308
Really? Huh. After the confusion I thought Decurion's head exploded.

>>39583148

The distortion field around Armaros condenses. Lightning sparks at his visor, the frenetic noise of his halo building to a roar-

And then Decurion's head explodes.

You don't even see what he did - It is a trick of the light, a sound like a roll of thunder. An odd, hard bang, painful to feel and hear - the alloy of Decurion's visor and breastplate deforming into a rippled crater, like heated wax that has flowed and set again. Like invisible hands, pulling him apart - A doll in the hands of a malicious child, a quick concussive vibration.

Then the fusion reactor that is Decurion's heart simply vanishes - swallowed up by a great, expanding tear that *warps* and *crushes* and *expands*, coring out the center of his being-

He pitches over the side of the building. When he hits the ground, whatever remains of him detonates.

The backwash of his fiery death whips the fug of smoke away - You hear ASHEN HAND shriek, even as his talons skitter against ornate masonry, digging in for support; Daegal shouts something incoherent - Caught in the act of turning, shielding his eyes from the whiteout burst that comes with a reactor eruption. His Assault Shroud swirls into the half-sphere of Fortress Mode, closing over White Licorice as thrashing limbs lash out with blind, elemental fury-

EBON THORN barrels forward, and slams into Armaros. His damaged arm is already healing - the black Lachryma that swirls within stitching the wound shut, lighting up on your altered senses like a road flare. He swings a massive punch, psychoactive barbs raking sparks from Armaros's torso-

Snapshots of battle. The Tempest Scrander at your back kicks you into the air, the landscape turning dark as writhing barbed limbs thrust from it, growing denser with every passing second; Ingram swings his automags in your direction as your Assault Shroud erupts into a swarm of death's-head parasites, a scourging cloud that swirls around his flailing form.

(Continued)

>>39583325
OP deleted his post, likely because of >>39583292
>>39583308
suggesting he could've worded it better.

>>39583342
This sounds a lot like EXEC_SMITE.

>>39583342
>your Assault Shroud erupts into a swarm of death's-head parasites, a scourging cloud that swirls around his flailing form.
Time for a cloud of death.

>>39583342
>the black Lachryma that swirls within stitching the wound shut, lighting up on your altered senses like a road flare.
Good time to try and rip the Lachryma out of someone.

>>39583342
Can we use Draw Forth on Ebon to stop his regen?

>>39583373
But only in small amounts, to test it.

>>39583380
>>39583373
>>39583382
Won't that horrify the fuck out of everyone watching?

>>39583389
Yeah I only meant it as a suggestion if Ebon's regen is too fast and he continues to be an annoying asshole

>>39583389
Good point.

By the way, wouldn't that be the ideal mercy kill for Rook? Dieing without lachryma in his body?

>>39583406
Well, if the swarm eats from him... And he regenerates... Wouldn't it increase in size very quickly?

>>39583409
Sounds very painful for the both of us considering I think we can only absorb not extract

>>39583389
We're already a horrifying creature and everyone here's had the time to harden the fuck up over it.

Even Armaros won't complain if the act takes someone out of the fight...at least not until the fight's over.

>>39583409
It would be, but taking a huge amount of Lachryma out of someone will probably push our Encroachment to worrying degrees.

>>39583439
>Even Armaros won't complain if the act takes someone out of the fight...at least not until the fight's over.
He might go apeshit if we go for the next Athame upgrade, though.

>>39583409
It's more like a desperate last measure we could use against WJ, if it came to it.

>>39583342

"Bastard-!" you hear him howl - His guns shimmer, becoming a swirling blur, settling into new shapes; He's firing, heedless, twin assault rifles hailing caseless rounds at you as you bring your Sinistral up - the shots detonating against the ghost-steel field, sending rippling distortions coursing through it. Burning tracers lance through the afterimages that trail in your wake; the bullets curve, chewing through the Assault Shroud's illusions-

He can't hit what he can't see. He's firing blind, frantic.

"Come *on*, Joker - Come on! I *shit* better men than y-"

His words are drowned out by the ripsaw thunder of your Plasma Vulcan. Fiery bolts sear into his already-damaged fragments; they crisp away and incinerate part of the swarm in the dozens, but each blazing shot explodes against his reeling form, blasting internal structure and armor fragments free - more and more rents for EXEC_SWARM to exploit...

The swarm parts. Like smoke, rising from the tatters of Ingram's staggering, stumbling shape.

For one moment, he sees you. There is a triumphant snarl as he raises his weapons-

Abruptly, he stops. He falters, as if confused - then his arms flop to his side and both automatic rifles clatter to the ground, as the antimatter round of your Tau Gun detonates at last, dead-centre.

And Blitz Ingram fragments like an overripe fruit.

(Continued)

>>39583389
Eh, practicality trumps aesthetics in this sense.

I mean, this is armageddon. Everyone is already gonna have PTSD, I hardly think adding another tiny amount of horror would make much of a difference.

>>39583474
>And Blitz Ingram fragments like an overripe fruit.
Man, the deaths here are awesomely violent.

>>39583474
You know, JQOP, you really deserve some praise for how visceral you write combat.
Especially firing guns.

>>39583474
>"Come *on*, Joker - Come on! I *shit* better men than y-"

You probably did. You probably did.

>>39583474

Two down, in what feels like as many minutes. ASHEN HAND's form spiders away, lifted by his array of arms - He's not evading, or manuvering, or executing a cunning plan.

He is simply running away.

Overhead, Rook's wings flare - He's taken the brunt of Ingram's initial barrage, holes chewed through his form; Rook is a man that takes things like that personally, you know, and Ingram's death has not improved his mood.

When he dives - talons extended, like a swooping hawk - he becomes a blur. A speed-distorted phantom.

Half of Ashen Hand is borne aloft, abruptly and without ceremony. The other half - everything below the waist - begins a slow, limp tumble groundwards, disintegrating as they make that final descent.

And all across the battlefield, the phantom images crumble into black ash.

One remaining.

(Continued)

>>39583574
Yeah, we'll definitely not killsteal Alura.

>>39583593
We are however going to punch her in the throat.

>>39583389

i think they're plenty horrified already by how the day has ended up so far so i think something like that in a life-or-death situation would be somewhat excusable. and we can explain it away afterwards.

>>39583601
That would probably kill her

>>39583601
Nah, man. Just exact some karmic justice.
Eye for an eye.

>>39583614
Good idea.
Definitely take out her eye. We owe Cybele at least that much.

>>39583609
She's a big girl she can take take a lil joker in the throat

>>39583574

Ebon Thorn throws a punch, another, and another. The mechanized blade systems of his armor rake across Armaros's chassis - He's smaller, faster than his opponent, and driven by the frenzy of the moment; Some of his blows go wide. Some dent and scar his armor.

"Is that all you've *got*, you sonofabitch?" you hear Thorn snarl, quite distinctly - "I'll-"

"-urk-"

His words are cut off quite abruptly, as Armaros's fist closes around his throat. Gravimetric suspensors hum, the renewed glow of the distortion halo feeding the poisonous blue light that bleeds from Armaros's visor.

"Terrorist," Armaros grates. "You have nothing at all."

HP: 113.8%
COBALT BOOSTER: 137%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 98%
METER: 38%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39583651
Hey, I think it's time for EXEC_REAP.

"Armaros, can I take him? I got a nice method to get answers."
Punch him in the chest, break his essence core and cast EXEC_REAP.

What do we ask?

>>39583668
How long it's going to take for the teleporter to recharge. Get a solid timeframe, and be there when it does.

>>39583668
>What do we ask?
Where other squads are, I guess.
This little intermezzo was fun, but avoiding it might be best, since this already left damage on us.

>>39583684
Also, how many people are waiting for their teleport.

>>39583687
>>39583697
These two are essentially the same - Position of other people in the area.

>>39583668
Where the leaders or lieutenants are right now

>>39583668

> "Armaros, can I take him? I got a nice method to get answers."

Armaros turns his head, at your arrival - Your Tempest Scrander shedding crimson particles, as you descend on a column of blue flame. For a long moment, he says nothing; and then, in a convulsive motion, like a man ridding himself of something unclean, something filthy, he flings Ebon Thorn away. The sound Thorn makes - Tonnes of armor violently slammed into the ground - belies the ease with which Armaros lifted him.

The impact has dazed him. Distressed him. The cracks that spiderweb across Thorn's battered armor - the faint whirring from within, like stripped gears - tell of damaged internal mechanisms, a ruptured gyro.

And Thorn says - snarls, a bitter hiss from his speakers-

"You'll never *tak-"

The Crisis Arm comes down.

You don't want him alive.

But as the fires of EXEC_REAP swirl around you, streamers of code gathering like the black damnation swarms, one thing is certain:

In life or death, he'll tell you everything.

JOKER QUEST

EPISODE 131.5

TO BE CONTINUED

>>39584038

(Gentlemen, my sincerest apologies: The next section - the revelations from this use of EXEC_REAP - are an extensive one. However, it is extremely late, and I have a full working day tomorrow - I'm afraid that I have to pause at this juncture for now.

Good night and God bless: You've been a wonderful audience, and I hope to see you all again soon. If possible, I'll see if I can upload the next section to my Twitter sometime this week; if not, I'll include it in the opening post for the next session.)

>>39584038
We basically did this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJP7vN4J6Eg

>>39584062
No worries. Thanks for running and finally getting us some more combat.

I'm familiar with sleep deprivation these past few days and I don't wish it on you during a working week.

File: image.jpg (22 KB, 206x277)

22 KB JPG

>>39584062
Thanks for running OP catch you next time

>>39584062
Hey OP quick question

With Draw Forth do we have to absorb it or can we just extract the Lachryma from something?

Alright, summary time.

In the interim between the previous thread and this one, there was a short thread that covered who we'd take with us on the Raid and what the others would do.
This thread starts off with this plan executed, and we talk a little with Rook before setting off.
He tells us he's dying because of the Lachryma in his body; if it comes to it, he asks us to do the honors. We also agree he should be the one to deal the killing blow to Alura.
After that, we set off in the Red Comet, taking with us Daegal, White Licorice, Rook, Haze, and Armaros.
We're greeted with the sight of the destroyed interior, and 4 destinations are presented to us.
We decide to go for the Grand Hall, smashing everything in our way, and we get there just in time to see someone teleport out.
Everyone leaves the Red Comet, and we find ourselves facing four Players: EBON THORN,SOL DECURION, BLITZ INGRAM and ASHEN HAND.
At first, the confrontation doesn't go to well, as hands and arms burst from the ground. We hit EBON THORN and ASHEN HAND with shots from the Tau gun, and the tide turns.
Armaros deals with Decurion rather gruesomely, and Rook deals with Hand. We shoot Ingram with the Tau gun again while he's trying to shittalk us.
Armaros captures Thorn, but he allows us to use EXEC_REAP.
While we're debating what question to ask, JQOP ends the thread.

File: 1428863582450.png (238 KB, 600x600)

238 KB PNG

Reminder that she's still waiting.

>>39584758
This is Joker Quest, where MISTER JOKER'S RIDE NEVER ENDS.

If she's still around, either she's not going to want to see us or we're not going to want to see her.

>>39584511
Assuming the silence is approval, here the newest Episode Guide: http://pastebin.com/p4N53hsu

>>39584815
I bet we won't be fighting Pazuzu, but rather Hecate with the other Nihl Sphere.

>>39587024
That'd be extremely dickish.
It'd basically be NTR, too. And JQOP has ranted against that before.

>>39584062
Don't we take in essence from ambient kills and thus, should have 3-4 players worth of essence?

>>39587607
I don't think we do, anon.
And if we did, it'd probably be a small share of the Essence, and probably not enough to level up.

>>39587704
I'm more confused by our low meter, actually.

>>39587536
Well, to be fair, NTRing your players as a QM is a dick move.

>>39587607
Pretty sure we only take in the essence from our own kills.

>>39587536
Wouldn't Hecate having the second Nihil Sphere imply that she ripped Pazuzu's eye out and killed him? That's not NTR at all.

>>39588542
Well, yeah. but her fighting us would be NTR.
Then again, a "I woke up and then you were dating a cosplay girl" would be nice motivation.
It would end with us throwing Mio into the meat grinder, re-uniting with Hecate and losing Kazuy as a bro.

>>39588479
Oh, Psion Quest. What a glorious shitstorm that was.

>>39588542
Yeah, but fighting her would mean she brought into the whole Smiler ideology. The feelings of guilt that'd bring us would be immense.

>all enemies today are shitgiggles with a tendency to insult their enemies
Guys, I think these might have been the undesirables that the Smilers wanted to get rid off.

>>39588612
>Well, yeah. but her fighting us would be NTR.
That doesn't make any fucking sense.
>>39588627
>Yeah, but fighting her would mean she brought into the whole Smiler ideology.
Anon, she was originally a Smiler.

>>39588686
>Anon, she was originally a Smiler.
Bought into it again, then. That'd probably be worse, even, because we'd've shown her the Smilers were correct all along.